I have been treating mesothelioma patients for over 20 years, most of whom are residents of the great state of California. I have seen this disease needlessly and viciously claim the lives of men and women from all walks of life, including military veterans, members of the building and construction trades, mechanics, shipbuilders, refinery workers, farmers, office workers, teachers and homemakers.

After all of the suffering and death caused by asbestos which I have witnessed, I was literally shocked to learn that, since the 1960’s, the state rock of California has been serpentine, the host rock for asbestos.

The legislative record reflects that serpentine was selected as the state rock as a symbol of California’s endorsement and support of the state’s burgeoning asbestos industry. With all that has been learned about asbestos and the thousands of lives it has claimed in the 30-plus years that have followed, it is time for California to drop its endorsement of this deadly mineral.

Children learn about the state rock in our schools and museums. Although in the case of serpentine/asbestos, it must be observed through a protective case and can’t even be touched. Imagine the insult which this presents to the thousands of children who will see their parents or grandparents gasping for air because of the effects of this seemingly benign symbol. Imagine also, the insult to all of the state-employed health care providers, such as myself, who dedicate themselves to treating victims of this poison which our employer continues to endorse.

On behalf of the Pacific Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute, and on behalf of thousands of state-employed health care providers who treat victims of asbestos disease, I implore each and every member of the California State Senate and State Assembly to take this long-overdue opportunity to end California’s endorsement of the deadly mineral, asbestos, by dropping serpentine as our state rock.